The 'Ministry of Table Service' (Father Simon Says)

How do you view the priesthood and diaconate? The way the secular world looks at Holy Orders may not be the way the Church sees it. 🌟 The Diaconate and Priesthood: More Than Just Labels! Fr. Richard Simon kicks off by tackling the terms "permanent" and "transitional" deacons. He's not a fan of these labels, arguing that, at the end of the day, a deacon is a deacon, period! 🚫 🌟 The Hebrew and Greek Roots: It's All About Service! He then enlightens you with a linguistic journey, revealing that 'diakonos' (Greek) and 'shamash' (Hebrew) essentially boil down to being a helper or a table waiter. Yep, you heard it right, waiting tables! 🍽️✨ 🌟 Ministry = Table Service? Fr. Simon throws a curveball by explaining that 'ministry' actually means table service. So, when someone boasts about their "ministry," they're essentially bragging about their skills in table waiting.  🌟 A Slice of Humor with a Side of Reality He shares a funny anecdote that reveals that 'diakonos' isn't as glamorous as it sounds. It's about humility and service, often performed by slaves in ancient times. 🙇‍♂️ 🌟 Holy Orders: The Ultimate Table Service Fr. Simon sees the diaconate as an integral part of holy orders. He believes that a lot of what a parish priest does is akin to the service of table waiting. And guess what? He's a deacon too! 🎉 🌟 Apostles and Table Waiting: A Surprising Connection He dives into a biblical reference where the apostles appoint deacons as table waiters to settle disputes. 📖 🌟 A Proud Father:  Fr. Simon wraps up with a letter from Steve who talks about his son's ordination, reminding you that every calling is a gift from God. 🙏